Mechanically actuated well lock setting apparatus



y 7, 1969 F. E. WATKINS 3,446,281

MECHANICALLY ACTUATED WELL LOCK SETTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1.967

Sheet of2 Fred 5 W0z%//7J INVENTOR.

ATTOPIVEVJ F. E. WATKINS May 27, 1969 MECHANICALLY ACTUATED WELL LOCK SETTING APPARATUS Sheet Filed Dec. 11, 1967 A rromv: m

United States Patent U.S. Cl. 166-214 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A setting apparatus for setting a subsurface well lock in a tubing including a mandrel, a holding skirt slidably supported on the mandrel and releasably holding the well lock, dogs pivotally mounted on the skirt and initially held in a retracted position by a retaining sleeve but yieldably urged outwardly for engagement with a shoulder in the tubing by a spring when pawl means which engage the sleeve are actuated by contact with a downwardly facing shoulder in the tubing. A plurality of tubing landing nipples vertically spaced in the tubing including an annular internal recess for receiving the locking dogs on the well lock and an annular upstanding shoulder above the recess for engagement by the setting dogs of the setting tool, and the recess and shoulder being spaced a fixed distance apart such that when the setting dogs engage the upstanding shoulder the locking dogs of the lock are aligned with the recess. Releasable locking means between the mandrel and the skirt for allowing downward jarring action when locked but preventing premature release of the well lock. Detent means engaging the retaining sleeve for holding the sleeve in the position in which it is mechanically set. The pawls extending outwardly from setting tool sufficiently to be engaged by a restriction in a tubing nipple, but not extending out sufiiciently to be engaged by the tubing.

Background of the invention It is conventional practice in the completion of an oil and/or gas well to locate within the production string a device called a landing nipple which contains a recess and a polished section. A Well lock is conventionally set in the landing nipple, the lock including expansible locking dogs which are expanded and lock in the recess of the landing nipple and includes a seal to mate with the nipple polished section. The well locks and nipples are adapted for use with other devices for controlling, regulating or separating zones otherwise affecting production. Patent No. 3,187,815 discloses the use of one type of setting tool for locating and setting a well lock in a landing nipple.

Summary The present invention is directed to providing a mechanically actuated well lock setting apparatus including a setting tool for mechanically setting a well lock in any one of several landing nipples at the discretion of the operator and independently of the nipple location within the tubing string.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a landing nipple for use in conjunction with the mechanical running tool which is identical to all of the nipples in the tubing string which will allow a well lock to be located and securely latched mechanically in 3,446,281 Patented May 27, 1969 any one of the several vertically spaced nipples in the tubing string.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a mechanical setting tool for setting a subsurface Well lock in a tubing having a holding skirt slidably supported on a mandrel for releasably holding the well lock and having downwardly directed pivoting dogs mounted on the skirt which are yieldably urged outwardly for engagement with an upwardly directed shoulder in the landing nipple and which when actuated outwardly will still allow the setting tool to move upwardly in the well tubing to the nipple location at which it is desired to set the well lock.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of a setting tool having setting dogs yieldably urged outwardly but held in an initially retracted position by a retaining sleeve which is released from engagement with the dogs by pawl means which extend outwardly from the setting tool a distance sufliciently to be engaged by a downwardly directed shoulder in the landing nipple, but not sufficiently so as to be engaged by shoulders in the tubing whereby the setting tool is only actuated by upward movement in a landing nipple.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of detent means engaging the retaining sleeve for holding the sleeve in the position in which it is mechanically set for controlling the actuation of the setting tool dogs.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a plurality of tubing landing nipples vertically spaced in the tubing and each including an annular internal recess for receiving the locking dogs of the Well lock and including an annular upstanding shoulder above the recess for engagement by the setting dog of the setting tool with the recess and shoulder being spaced a fixed distance apart such that when the setting dogs engage the upstanding shoulder the locking dogs are aligned with the recess.

Brief description of the drawings In the attached drawings, like character references refer to like parts throughout the several views in which,

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating the setting tool of the present invention releasably holding a well lock and being run through a landing nipple,

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view, partly in cross section similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating the apparatus of the present invention in position for setting the locking dogs of the well lock in the landing nipple,

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURES 1 and 2 with the setting tool released from the well lock,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating in detail the structure of the setting tool in position for initiating release of the setting dogs, and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the setting tool of the present invention with the setting dogs in position for releasing and setting the well lock.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1, the reference numeral 10 generally indicates the well lock setting apparatus of the present invention which generally includes a setting tool 12 and a plurality of vertically spaced landing nipples 14, only one of which 3 is shown for convenience, in a well tubing for setting a conventional well lock 16 in a nipple 14.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, the setting tool 12 includes a mandrel 18 and a holding skirt 20 slidably supported on the mandrel 18, but prevented from disengagement therewith by coacting shoulders 22 and 24 on the mandrel and skirt, respectively. Thus, the mandrel 18 is movable relative to the skirt 20 for transmitting a jarring action that will be more fully described hereinafter. The mandrel 18 includes suitable connecting means such as threads 25 for attachment of the tool 12 to suitable support means such as conventional wire line tools for movement of the tool 12 through the well tubing 15 and landing nipples 14. The skirt 20 has a bore configuration and holes for shear pins 26 and 28 for connection to and releasably supporting the well lock 16 in a retracted position with the locking dogs 30 (FIGURE 1) of the lock 16 retracted. The well lock 16 is conventional and its operation and structure is more fully described in Patent No. 3,187,815 and no further description is believed to be necessary.

One or more setting dogs 32 are pivotally mounted on the skirt 20 in a position, when extended, to engage on an upwardly directed shoulder 64 in the tubing 14 when the tool 12 is moved downwardly. Thus the dogs 32 are mounted on pivot pins 34 which are positioned adjacent the upper end of the dogs 32. Springs 36 are provided between the skirt 20 and the dogs 32 yieldably urging the dogs 32 toward extended position.

However, when the setting tool 12 and the well lock 16, which is releasably connected thereto, is passed downwardly through the tubing 16 and several landing nipples 14, it is necessary that the setting dogs 32 be in a retracted position. Thus, a retaining sleeve 38 which is slidably mounted between the mandrel 18 and the skirt 20 is provided which is initially held in position behind a heel 40 of the dogs 32 thus holding the dogs 32 in a retracted position. Preferably the sleeve 38 is also held in position by a detent which may consist of a garter spring 42 which is positioned in a groove 44 in the skirt 20 and which acts against a shoulder 46 on the retaining sleeve 38. Thus, the garter spring 44 acts against the shoulder 46 keeping the retaining sleeve 38 behind the heel 40 of the setting dogs 32 and prevents premature release of the dogs 32. It is also noted that as the wireline jars (not shown) open during the process of running the tool 12 and lock 16 into the tubing the stop after opening creates an inertia force on the retaining sleeve 38 in a direction to force the sleeve under the heel 44 of the dogs 32 which also acts to prevent premature release.

In order to move the retaining sleeve out of engagement with the setting dogs 32 when desired, one or more pawls 48 are provided which are pivotally secured to the skirt 28 having a shoulder 50 which engages a coacting shoulder 52 on the sleeve 38. Preferably, the pawls extend outwardly from the outer circumference of the skirt 20 a distance to be engaged by a downwardly facing restriction in a landing nipple 14, but do not extend outwardly a sufiicient distance to be engaged by any shoulders in the tubing 15. In addition, the pawls 48 may be spring loaded by a spring 54 so that they may be rotated out of the way when the setting tool 12 is going down through a landing nipple 14, but are again forced outwardly by the spring 54. Thus, as the tool 12 is lifted in a landing nipple 14 and engages a downwardly facing shoulder 51 (FIGURE 4) the pawls 48 will be rotated so as to engage and move the retaining sleeve 38 upwardly and away from the setting dogs 32 to release the dogs 32 and the detent spring 44 will move over the shoulder 46 and hold the sleeve 38 in a retracted position away from the dogs 32 so as not to accidentally re-engage the heels 411.

It is sometimes difficult for the setting tool 12 and the well lock 16 to pass through landing nipples 14 due to the swell of packing from the action of petroleum fluids and temperatures. Therefore, it is preferable that the setting dogs 32 be provided with a shoulder 56 coacting with a shoulder 58 on the mandrel 18 when the dogs 32 are in a retracted position (FIGURE 4) thereby allowing downward jarring without prematurely releasing the well lock 16. In addition, if severe jarring in a downward direction is expected, additional shear pins 57 may be provided between the mandrel 18 and the skirt 20 to further absorb the jarring action.

As previously mentioned landing nipples 14 conventionally include a recess 60 for engagement by the locking dogs 38 of the well lock 16 and further include a restricted opening 62 as compared to the normal tubing opening and include a polished section for coacting with a seal on the well lock 16. A further feature of the landing nipples 14 of the present apparatus is the provision of an upstanding shoulder 64 (FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 5) spaced above the annular recess 60 with the shoulder 64 being spaced a fixed distance from the recess 60 such that when the setting dogs 32 of the setting tool 12 are engaged thereon, the locking dogs 30 of the well lock 16 are aligned with the recess 68 (FIGURE 2).

In operation, the top of the well lock 16 is inserted into the interior of the skirt 20 of the setting tool 12 and secured therein by shear pins 26 and 28 (FIGURE 4) so that the locking dogs 30 of the well lock 16 are in a retracted position. The retaining sleeve 38 of the setting tool 12 is in position as shown in FIGURE 4 behind the heel 40 of the setting dogs 32 whereby the dogs 32 are in a retracted position. Thus, the setting tool 12 and well lock 16 are lowered in the tubing 15 (FIGURE 1) and through one or more of the vertical spaced landing nipplies 14 by conventional equipment such as wireline tools.

After passing below a landing nipple in which the well lock 16 is to be set, the setting dogs 32 may be released by picking up the setting tool 12 causing the pawl 48 to engage a downwardly facing shoulder 51 on the landing nipple 14 (FIGURES 1 and 4) or the annulus 60 and be rotated about the support pins because of the smaller diameter opening 62 of the landing nipples 14. The shoulder 58 on the pawls 48 are thus rotated upwardly acting against the shoulder 52 on the retaining sleeve 38 causing the garter spring 48 to expand in its opening 44 to allow the retaining shoulder 46 to pass through the garter spring 42 thereby moving the retaining sleeve 38 out from behind the heel 40 of the setting dogs 32. The garter spring 42 is now on the second side of the shoulder 46 holding the retaining sleeve 38 in an upward position away from the dogs 32.

The setting dogs 32 are then yieldably urged outwardly by a spring 36. It is noted that it is not necessary to set the well lock 16 in the landing nipple 14 that releases the dogs 32. Although the assembly cannot be moved further down the hole due to the release of the setting dogs 32, the entire setting tool 12 and well lock 16 can be moved upward through one or more landing nipples 14 and the lock 16 set in an upper nipple 14 or the assembly can be returned to the surface without setting.

When it is desired to set the lock 16 the setting tool 12 is moved downwardly and as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 5, and the now extended setting dogs 32 engage the upwardly extending shoulder 64 in the desired landing nipple 14 preventing further downward movement of the skirt 20. At this time, with the setting dogs 32 in engagement with the shoulder 64, the locking dogs 30 of the well lock 16 will be in alignment with the annular recess 68 of the landing nipple 14. Further downward jarring of the mandrel 18 provides a jarring force on the top of the well lock 16 shearing shear pin 26 and thereafter actuating the lock 16 into a set position by expanding the locking dogs 30 into position in the recess 68.

A jarring upward movement may then be taken to shear pins 28 thereby releasing the setting tool 12 from the well lock 16 and the setting tool 12 may be withdrawn from the well bore as best seen in FIGURE 3.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A setting tool for setting a subsurface well lock in a tubing having a plurality of spaced landing nipples comprising,

a mandrel,

attachment means on said mandrel tool,

a holding skirt slidably supported on said mandrel and extending below said mandrel,

means on said skirt for releasably holding said well lock,

dogs pivotally mounted on said skirt,

spring means yieldably urging said dogs outwardly for engagement with a shoulder in the tubing,

a retaining sleeve slidable on said skirt and initially engaging and holding said dogs in a retracted position,

pawl means engaging said sleeve for moving said sleeve out of engagement with the dogs whereby the dogs may engage a shoulder in the tubing and the mandrel may be moved relative to the skirt for releasing the well lock.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including,

releasable locking means between the mandrel and the skirt for allowing a downward jarring action when locked without prematurely releasing the well lock.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including,

detent means engaging the retaining sleeve for holding the sleeve in and out of engagement with the dogs as it is moved.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 includes,

resilient means carried by the skirt, and

a shoulder on said sleeve.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pawls eX- tend outwardly from said apparatus sufliciently to be engaged by a restriction in the landing nipple, but not sufiiciently to be engaged by the tubing.

6. A setting tool for setting a subsurface well lock in a tubing having a plurality of spaced landing nipples each having an annular recess in the interior wall comprising,

a mandrel,

attachment means on top of said mandrel for supporting and moving said mandrel through said tubing,

a holding skirt slidably supported on said mandrel and extending below said mandrel,

releasably holding means on said skirt for holding said well lock in a retracted position,

dogs pivotably mounted on said skirt,

spring means yieldably urging said dogs outwardly for engagement with an upwardly directed shoulder in the tubing,

a retaining sleeve slidably mounted between the skirt and the mandrel and initially engaging and holding the dogs in a retracted position,

coacting locking shoulders on the dogs and said mandrel which are engaged when the dogs are retracted for preventing downward movement of the mandrel relative to the skirt for preventing premature release of the well lock,

detent means engaging the retaining sleeve for holding the sleeve in the position in which it is mechanically set, and

pawl means engaging said sleeve for moving said sleeve out of engagement with the dogs whereby the dogs may engage a shoulder in a nipple and the mandrel for supporting said wherein the detent means may be moved relative to the skirt for releasing the well lock.

7. In combination with a subsurface well lock having an expansible locking dog, the improvement for setting said lock in a well bore comprising,

a setting tool comprising,

a holding skirt supporting on said mandrel and extending below said mandrel,

means on said skirt for releasably holding said well lock,

setting dogs pivotally mounted on said skirt for allowing the lower ends of the dogs to move outwardly,

means for urging the lower ends of the dogs to move outwardly,

retaining means initially engaging and holding said dogs in a retracted position,

releasing means for releasing the retaining means,

said setting dogs being spaced a predetermined distance above the locking dogs when the well lock is attached to the skirt, and

a tubing nipple comprising,

an annular internal recess for receiving said locking dogs,

an annular upstanding shoulder above said recess for engagement by said setting dogs, and

said recess and shoulder being spaced a fixed distance apart such that when the setting dogs engage the upstanding shoulder, the locking dogs are aligned with the recess.

8. In combination with a subsurface well lock having an expansible locking dog, the improvement for setting said lock in a well bore comprising,

a setting tool including,

a mandrel,

a holding skirt slidably supported on said mandrel and extending below said mandrel,

means on said skirt for releasably holding said well lock,

attachment means on said mandrel for supporting said tool,

expansible setting dogs pivotally mounted on said skirt,

spring means yieldably urging said setting dogs outwardly for engagement with a shoulder in the tubing,

a retaining sleeve slidable on said skirt and initially engaging and holding said setting dogs in a retracted position,

pawl means engaging said sleeve for moving said sleeve out of engagement with the setting dogs, and

a plurality of tubing nipples vertically spaced in said tubing and including,

an annular internal recess for receiving said locking dogs of the lock,

an annular upstanding shoulder above said recess for engagement by said setting dogs, and

said recess and shoulder being spaced a fixed distance apart such that when the setting dogs engage the upstanding shoulder, the latch dogs are aligned with the recess.

9. A setting tool for setting a subsurface well lock in a tubing have a plurality of spaced landing nipples comprising,

a mandrel,

attachment means on said mandrel for supporting said tool,

a holding skirt slidably supported on said mandrel and extending below said mandrel,

means on said skirt for releasably holding said well look,

setting dogs pivotally mounted for allowing the lower ends of the dogs to move outwardly on said skirt,

means urging the Lower ends of said dogs outwardly for engagement with a shoulder in a tubing,

retaining means on said skirt and initially holding said dogs in a retracted position, and

releasing means for releasing the retaining means whereby the dogs may engage a shoulder in the tubing and the mandrel may be moved relative to the skirt for releasing the well lock.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS US. Cl. X.R. 

